Baseball can be a Crazy Game
By: Tim Thoreson
One of the reasons I have such a passion for the game of baseball is that it can be downright crazy at times. You never know what to expect and at times will see the unthinkable.
What prompted me to write this article was an occurrence that happened after my son's baseball practice this evening, he is currently in 2nd grade. We stayed at the field to get some extra practice, and as we were leaving and he had just caught his last pop up, he said, "Dad, I am going to try to throw the ball over the backstop." He was standing in the outfield grass, which makes for quite a long toss for a 2nd grader. I thought no way could he do it. He took his crow hop and heaved the ball with all his might, it sailed over the backstop and went flying right into a garbage can that was located right next to the bleachers, CRAZY. We both laughed and marveled at what just occurred.
One of the reasons I have such a passion for the game of baseball is that it can be downright crazy at times. You never know what to expect and at times will see the unthinkable.
What prompted me to write this article was an occurrence that happened after my son's baseball practice this evening, he is currently in 2nd grade. We stayed at the field to get some extra practice, and as we were leaving and he had just caught his last pop up, he said, "Dad, I am going to try to throw the ball over the backstop." He was standing in the outfield grass, which makes for quite a long toss for a 2nd grader. I thought no way could he do it. He took his crow hop and heaved the ball with all his might, it sailed over the backstop and went flying right into a garbage can that was located right next to the bleachers, CRAZY. We both laughed and marveled at what just occurred.
Obviously baseball can get much crazier than a ball being thrown into a garbage can. I thought it would be fun to share with you all some crazy things I have witnessed at baseball games and some a few of my personal favorite all time crazy plays.
2 Crazy Occurrences in the Same Game
I was watching a D1 college game in the mid nineties at the Metrodome in Minnesota. I was sitting just behind home plate behind some scouts that were using radar guns to evaluate some of the pitchers. A hitter hit a foul ball that came screaming back to the safety net, and SMASH, right into the radar gun. Maybe the scout shouldn't be holding the gun so close to net?
Seeing a radar gun get smashed by a foul ball was pretty neat, but later in that game I witnessed something else I had never personally seen at a baseball game. It may be somewhat difficult to describe this as it just doesn't seem possible, but I'll do my best. A player had just laid down a bunt and it went just a few feet in front of home plate. The catcher pounced up and fielded it almost immediately, he had plenty of time to make the play to first. After the catcher had fielded the ball cleanly, he flipped off his mask and helmet before making the throw to first base. Somehow he flipped his helmet too high and out in front himself, because as he threw the ball to first base, it struck his helmet in mid air (yes, the one he had just tossed away) and ricocheted to the backstop. Needless to say all runners were safe. To this day I still can't figure out how the catcher tossed his mask in a way that impeded his throw to first base on a routine play.
My Favorite Crazy Plays
I am guessing many of you have seen the following plays, if so maybe you will enjoy watching them again. If these are plays you've never seen before, then get ready to be wowed! Here they are:
2 Crazy Occurrences in the Same Game
I was watching a D1 college game in the mid nineties at the Metrodome in Minnesota. I was sitting just behind home plate behind some scouts that were using radar guns to evaluate some of the pitchers. A hitter hit a foul ball that came screaming back to the safety net, and SMASH, right into the radar gun. Maybe the scout shouldn't be holding the gun so close to net?
Seeing a radar gun get smashed by a foul ball was pretty neat, but later in that game I witnessed something else I had never personally seen at a baseball game. It may be somewhat difficult to describe this as it just doesn't seem possible, but I'll do my best. A player had just laid down a bunt and it went just a few feet in front of home plate. The catcher pounced up and fielded it almost immediately, he had plenty of time to make the play to first. After the catcher had fielded the ball cleanly, he flipped off his mask and helmet before making the throw to first base. Somehow he flipped his helmet too high and out in front himself, because as he threw the ball to first base, it struck his helmet in mid air (yes, the one he had just tossed away) and ricocheted to the backstop. Needless to say all runners were safe. To this day I still can't figure out how the catcher tossed his mask in a way that impeded his throw to first base on a routine play.
My Favorite Crazy Plays
I am guessing many of you have seen the following plays, if so maybe you will enjoy watching them again. If these are plays you've never seen before, then get ready to be wowed! Here they are:
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No doubt you never know what you might see at a baseball game. My intent with this article was to share some of the plays that bring me joy and to remind all coaches to embrace the craziness of the game. Knowing that the unexpected can happen, can give any team hope that a comeback can occur, an underdog can beat the favorite, and winning games takes hard work, but sometimes a little luck!
Good Luck Coaches!
Tim Thoreson
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